Many professional clubs can tell you how disgusting the first round of the cup can be. Not least the Lilies after last August. The general conditions for the start of the cup are the same for almost all away teams year after year: high altitude against lower-class opponents who see the encounter as an absolute final. There's nothing to gain apart from getting ahead, but a lot to lose. The fact that this did not happen to SV 98 this year was due to early decisions and resilience. Next round – no more, but no less either. And yet progress should give you strength for the tasks ahead.
In the cup, the main goal was to advance. We've fulfilled that.
“As a higher-class club, you have to win the game – especially us after our start,” said Torsten Lieberknecht after the 3-1 away win against FC Teutonia 05 from the Ottensen district of Hamburg: “It’s good for the team to have won a competitive game .” His captain that afternoon was also “happy that we won and progressed,” said Clemens Riedel: “In the cup, the main goal was to progress. We’ve fulfilled that.”
He and his team controlled the game, especially in the first half, and created several promising chances. Two of them resulted in goals: on the one hand, in the 19th minute, Kai Klefisch fired a spectacular shot into the top corner via the underside of the bar. On the other hand, the busy, constant hustler, Luca Marseiler, could only be stopped in the penalty area by a foul. Teammate Fabian Nürnberger placed his spot kick into the bottom corner whilst the goalkeeper dived to the opposite corner.
“We could perhaps have made it 3-0 or even 4-0 earlier, but then we got into a short, small whirlwind after the break,” says Riedel, summarising the periods before and after the half-time break. “We have to act more calmly,” criticised the 21-year-old. The Teutons intercepted a misplaced pass after 49 minutes and scored the next goal after their first shot was saved. Lieberknecht: “We made a mistake in the second half to bring Teutonia back into this cup game. We lacked security there.”
Because Oscar Vilhelmsson made it 3-1 after around an hour, the home supporters also had to get used to the idea that a cup sensation would probably not happen that afternoon. And the loud Lily fans who had travelled along came to the realisation that there would finally be a successful return trip to Darmstadt. Even if the home team playing at the Millerntor didn’t give up until the final whistle. But we stuck to ourselves and carried on,” said Klefisch: “It was then important to restore the old gap with the 3:1 and thus stop Teutonia’s upswing.”
In the end, the text doesn’t have to be too pathetic at this point. The South Hessians have completed their mandatory task and completed their cup homework. An overall lacklustre but safe victory. Before future first round draws, August 14, 2023 is probably mentioned as a warning example. August 18, 2024, however, remains a footnote in Darmstadt Cup history. In the present, however, it just feels nice to have achieved success and to leave the weekend with a positive feeling. With relief that other teams have to drink from the cup of early cup elimination this weekend, but not their own. And looking forward to the coming week. The first task in the cup has been solved. Next task: collect something worthwhile next weekend.
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.